Tag: people like me

Kids Love Science

Kids love science (you should see their hands up at a STEM event!), but somehow as they get older many of them learn (or are taught) that it’s boring, or not cool. I do a decent amount of STEM Ambassador volunteering to try to ensure this change in perception never happens: I’ve made Jelly baby DNA with Key Stage 1, talked about non-standard career trajectories with kids almost ready to start university, built birds’ nests with 4 year olds… I’ve even single-handedly done combination presentation-and-practicals for an entire Junior School over the course of one day! I usually get really good feedback from teachers about the events I run, and I also get lots of support from my local STEM Ambassador Hub (one lovely lady even dropping off supplies for an event at my house on her way home!), but it’s not often that I get a letter from a child.

So imagine my pleasure and surprise when I received a letter this week from a child in the Junior School where I did the day-long event. She wrote so eloquently and earnestly. Of course I felt great that she said some lovely things about me. But what was even better is that the event seemed to really spark an interest. Irrespective of her (and all the other children’s) ultimate careers, I’m hoping that the work I do with them encourages them to face the world with open eyes and a thoughtful mind. Words like this are what really keep us STEM Ambassadors going:

Thank you so much for teaching us about DNA. You have sparked my curiosity […] I loved learning all the interesting facts […] This amazed and confused me too! I would love to learn even more about DNA […] Science week would not have been the same without you.

I absolutely agree – Science can be amazing and confusing. And weird, and wonderful, and mind blowing.

It’s not all bad news, though. Every single group and department I’ve worked in (that’s right, every single job) has had lots of diversity, and I’ve never felt neglected, belittled or sidelined. For example, the Oxford e-Research Centre (where I am currently employed) published an article today about my STEM volunteering and the recent career profiles I’ve been a part of (more on that next). But there’s still a lot of work to be done.

There is a huge drop off in the number of girls studying core STEM subjects at the age of 16. Just 35% of girls choose maths, physics, computing or a technical vocational qualification compared to 94% of boys. This reduces the number going on to do a degree or level 4 qualification in maths, physics, computer science or engineering – 9% of girls compared to 29% of boys. Source: WISE Campaign

As such, I’ve jumped on the chances I’ve been given recently to make a positive difference. The North Yorkshire Business and Education Partnership’s ‘Pen Portraits’ have been designed to give female students a glimpse into the variety of STEM based careers available to them. Through my work as a STEM ambassador, I was asked to provide one of these portraits – if you follow the above link, you’ll find me in there along with a number of other great women in STEM.

It may seem like I’m tooting my own horn (which I am, to a certain extent, after all – this is my blog!), but the main thing that interests me is getting kids engaged in STEM, and I’m hoping that all the volunteering and STEM education skills I’m learning now together with the increased visibility of these issues will ultimately help kids get interested in STEM, stay interested in STEM, and have equal opportunities in STEM careers.